Leonie Augustin

What do you do at Polyspektiv?
Like everyone on the team, I’m involved in conceptualizing, developing, organizing, and implementing projects. Additionally, I’m responsible for communication with certain clients and handle part of the public relations, primarily the website and newsletter. Methodologically, I focus on interactive workshops, Escape Rooms, and simulation games.

How did you join polyspektiv?
I studied European Studies as a Franco-German program in Paderborn and Le Mans, and then specialized in politics during my Master’s in Frankfurt (Oder). During my studies, I gained initial experience in intercultural youth work and applied as a freelancer at polyspektiv in 2013 because I wanted to do more in the field of youth and educational work. After completing my Master’s, I was hired in 2015 and have stayed with polyspektiv ever since, as the fields of work, projects, topics, and methods have continually evolved, making it an exciting job to this day.

What do you enjoy most about working at polyspektiv?
I particularly enjoy the mix of content-related conceptual work and working with people in groups through facilitating workshops. Among the projects, I especially enjoy our Franco-German and international projects. I originally studied European Studies because I wanted to work with foreign languages, and I’m always thrilled when I can work in other languages and with people from different countries at work. Methodologically, I enjoy training sessions, as I like sharing knowledge with other multipliers and exchanging ideas with people in similar fields.

Why are you involved in political education?
I believe political education is important because it can make a significant contribution to strengthening democracy and social cohesion. I enjoy working in this field, as it’s always interesting to examine topics from different perspectives, and I continually learn new things. The name “polyspektiv” reflects that we’re not committed to a single perspective but can look at every topic from multiple angles.

What do you do when you’re not working for polyspektiv?
I work a four-day week at polyspektiv, so I fortunately have a lot of time for other enjoyable activities. It’s important to me to have a creative and athletic balance to work, which often requires concentration and reflection. I’ve had a few hobbies that have been very important to me for many years. I sing and play the piano, both alone and in a small pop choir. I’ve tried various dance styles over the years, and currently, I’m primarily dancing Swing and Balboa.

I’m also hoping to do more sailing trips. So far, I’ve sailed in Greece and Sardinia. I loved being on the water all day and found it fascinating to function and coordinate so closely with a group for a week!